Matters of Faith

Reverend J. Loren Russell

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

There is a famous poem entitled “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, penned by Paul Laurence Dunbar and inspired a book of the same name written by Maya Angelou that has become a literary classic. 

Birds were not designed to be caged; they were designed to sing and to fly. But in man’s quest to harness nature, we create cages to hold birds for our pleasure. Yet, despite their restrictive and limiting environment, their resiliency allows the caged birds to defeat their frustrations, vent their misery, express their excitement for life, and create beauty through the gift of song the Lord has placed in their heart. Paul Laurence Dunbar heard the songs of joy from the caged bird and discovered, despite the turbulence of his era, that he too could sing and fly from the gift the Lord had given to him…, writing poetry.

Caged birds have only artificial restraints because their song and their flight are not dependent on their environment. Caged birds have the ability to sing and the audacity to fly because both were given to them by God, who did not say where to use them, only that they were gifts to be used. Just like caged birds, we have God-given ability to sing and the capability to fly. 

The dawn of a new year challenges us to stress less and change our limitations into strengths by recognizing we were designed by God to sing and to soar. Every one of us has limitations and restrictions that challenge our God-given abilities. So, every new year, we are offered the chance to alter our perspective of our cages. We are given the opportunity to sing the song we have in our hearts, and to use the wings on our backs that we haven’t even noticed were there.  

Whatever song the Lord has placed on your heart, it needs to be sung, no matter the cage you find yourself. Singing your song and using your wings frees you from the confines of the cage of social, financial, familial, or spiritual bondage that may have been imposed on you, as well as those manufactured by your own choices. Jerry Dunn said, “challenge your limits, don’t limit your challenges”. Stress less and be blessed in 2026! 

Be Blessed! 

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Reverend J. Loren Russell 

Matthew 20:11-16

And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Dr. Benjamin Mays penned a poem entitled “I Have Only Just a Minute”.  It’s a poem about the value and use of time. He wrote;

“I have only just a minute. 

Only sixty seconds in it. 

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it. 

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it. 

But it’s up to me to use it. 

I must suffer if I lose it. 

Give account if I abuse it, 

Just a tiny little minute 

But eternity is in it.”  

In our text, we see a parable that Jesus shared with His disciples to address their misunderstanding about time served and the reward or payment for their service. The disciples were under the misguided impression that there is a greater reward based on

• their length of service to the Master, 
• their commitment to serving the Master, 
• their diligent efforts while working for the Master. 

They were not much different than the followers of Christ today, who think they qualify for a greater reward because 

• I am an usher….
• I am a deacon…
• I am a tither …
• I am a preacher …
• I have been in this church 40 years.

All these roles and commitments matter. They are valuable and necessary. Yet none of them, by themselves, entitle us to a greater reward.

Jesus teaches that the true motivation for service is not the payment at the end, but the privilege of serving itself. Kingdom work is about the process, not the payoff. If we labor in God’s vineyard merely for what we expect to receive, then Jesus says we already have our reward.

When the workers who were first hired came to receive their wages, they assumed they deserved more because they had worked longer than the others. Their expectation caused them to miss the heart of the lesson. God’s grace is not measured by hours logged but by hearts transformed.

This parable calls us to a deeper examination of our hearts. It challenges our assumptions about fairness, reward, and entitlement, exposing the subtle sins of envy, superiority, and jealousy that often distort our discipleship. Yet, it also offers hope. God’s mercy and generosity are not simply rewards at the end of our labor; they are revealed in the very process that reshapes us. 

In the economy of God’s grace, the greatest reward is not what we receive for our work, but who we become as we submit ourselves to the transforming power of faithful service.

Be Blessed! 

Reverend J. Loren Russell

Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, up on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

We began this Advent season on Sunday, November 30^th, the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and will conclude on Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24^th. It is in anxious anticipation that we await the Advent, the “coming” or “arrival” of Jesus the Christ. 

Christ means the anointed one, the Messiah, or divinely appointed savior or king. The name Jesus translates into Joshua, which means God saves. Jesus Christ is the divinely appointed and anointed one who saves us from the consequences of our sins. Jesus Christ is the salvation of the world because there is power in the name of Jesus!

This is evidenced in Paul’s letter to the Philippian church (2:9-11), “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. Luke further clarifies in Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

The Advent not only celebrates the birth of Christ, but it symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and congregations. We affirm in our worship that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. 

John puts in order the advent and the magnitude of Jesus’ presence when he shared Jesus’ discussion with the Apostle Thomas and then explains why he wrote at all in the final sentence; “Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:29-31). 

The birth of Jesus brings life. His life leads to the cross. The cross gives way to the resurrection. And without the resurrection, faith has no foundation, forgiveness has no power, eternal life has no promise, and hope has no voice.

Advent invites us into eternal gratitude, for apart from gratitude, the promise of hope cannot be received.

Be Blessed!